July 31, 2009

OK, I'm paraphrasing, but here's what the USA Today article said about the reason Richmond is not on the 2010 schedule.

Richmond drops IRL:

The IndyCar Series will not return to Richmond International Raceway, the track announced Thursday night. While the series? fees to host an event was among several financial factors cited in a review, consecutive lackluster races led to its decision according to a statement from the track.

"The series puts on good shows all over the world, but here at Richmond we just didn't have the racing that our fans have come to expect," the statement said. "Nonetheless, the IndyCar Series continues to run entertaining events at other venues and we wish them all the best for the future."

So, the cost of the race did not equal the benefit of the racing, in Richmond's eyes. That's the way it works.

Maybe Belle Isle figures "if Barber can get on the schedule, we can too." Panned by racers and watchers alike as a snorefest, the "Detroit GP PR" kicked out a release Friday saying it hopes to make it back on the schedule for 2011.

All I can say is if they have the right kind of benjamins and tell IndyCar officials how young and thin they look, they'll probably get back on the schedule. Hey, let's just go to all road/street courses. Oh wait, Champ Car tried that ...

USA Today is reporting that the Milwaukee Mile management has selected one of three proposals to become the new promoter for the historic track.

The article does not identify the new promoter, however. Fire up your Google because an announcement of the new promoter is expected today.

The Wisconsin State Fair Board, which controls the track, voted last week to end its partnership with promoter Wisconsin Motorsports, which is believed to owe NASCAR and the IRL several million dollars — putting the future of the track's two major events in jeopardy.

The Indy Racing League has said it wants to save its race in Milwaukee and has left the Mile's traditional date -- weekend after the Indy 500 -- open in its schedule expected to be formally announced today.

July 30, 2009

Dude, I've been patient, even to the point of publicly admitting that Toronto was probably the best race of the season so far. A street race. The best one so far. INCLUDING THE INDY 500.

That may be a sign of the apocalypse, but we call 'em as we see 'em here.

But, having said that, and haven given the twisties their due, I just have to say .... f*ck third gear.

What do I see at 211 miles per hour? An OVAL. Apex this, chicane that, fuel strategy whatever. Let's saddle up, get the wings back and GO, 'kay? And while we're at it, f*ck the fuel knob too, sparky. Full rich and wiiiiiiide open. Who's with me? I have sky-high, incredibly unreasonable hopes for Kentucky, which may even be a make-or-break race, at least in terms of my enthusiasm for the season.

Here's hoping we get an oval-oval, not a street oval. "This is Maverick .... I'm supersonic ... I'll be there in 30 seconds."

This just in from Versus.com's Bruce Martin (which I think is pronounced "Mar-TEEN" ... kidding).

Bruce getsTerry Angstadt, President, Commercial Division of the IndyCar Series and several others on record re:

1) possible operators for the Milwaukee Mile 2) Angstadt saying Richmond refused to negotiate a new deal to keep the track on the schedule, 3) "the rumor that Tony George and John Menard were putting a group together to purchase the IndyCar Series away from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation" and a few more.

Is it rumor "mongering" or rumor "investigation"? YOU be the judge. Read it (if you can, given it's white type on black background which makes my eyes bleed after one paragraph) HERE.

If entertaining, authentic, no-bullshit blogging was a criteria for IndyCar participation, Paul Tracy would be P1.

The Thrilla is back on Racer.com with more straight-forward bloggage, including some very frank discussion of the fallout of his spearage of Mario Moraes (insert Jimmy Vasser using profanity here) and recount of his lonely race in Edmonton.

Then, at the end, a bonus Michael Jackson reference! Most excellent. Check it HERE.

"BMW will end their involvement in Formula One racing at the end of the
current season, it was announced on Wednesday. The move is part of what
the German car maker described as a ‘landmark’ decision to restructure
its motorsport activities."

July 28, 2009

Reports from every direction, kids, that BMW-Sauber will pull out of Formula One at the end of this year.

Autosport.com and others report that "An emergency press conference has been called at BMW's headquarters in Munich, where it is suggested that the car company may reveal that it has decided to end its involvement in F1."